Tubular handling apparatus and method

#Not Applicable.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to handling well bore tubulars. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for handling and storing the tubulars as they are inserted into and removed from a well bore.

#For a more detailed description of the embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pipe handling system;

#FIG. 2 is a top view of the pipe handling system;

#FIGS. 1-4 show a pipe handling system 10 comprising a pipe magazine 12, a pipe conveyor system 13, and a pipe arm 16. The pipe handling system 10 handles pipes 18 in conjunction with a drilling rig 20 for drilling a well bore. The pipe magazine 12 and the pipe conveyor system 13 are modular units that allow for easy assembly, disassembly, and transportation of the pipe handling system 10.

#As shown in FIG. 1, the pipe magazine 12 includes multiple integral pipe racks 22 arranged horizontally and spaced along the length of and inside the magazine 12 for supporting multiple layers of pipes 18 horizontally. The racks 22 pivot on the longitudinal axis of the pipes 18 to gravitationally bias the pipes 18 to one side of the magazine 12 or the other. The racks 22 pivot depending on whether the pipes 18 are being unloaded from or loaded onto the racks 22. Hydraulic cylinders 23 control the position of the racks 22. Each rack 22 comprises vertically spaced horizontal supports or slats 26 (FIG. 3) for arrangement of the pipes 18. Hydraulic cylinders 27 control the slats 26 and selectively extend the individual slats 26 for loading and unloading the pipes 18.

#The pipe conveyor system 13 comprises vertical conveyors 30 on one side of each magazine 12 (FIG. 4). The vertical conveyors 30 can be a chain, elevator, belt, or any other suitable conveyor type. The vertical conveyors 30 each have a shovel arm 32 facing the rack 22 for moving the pipe 18 along the vertical conveyors 30. A motor 33 drives a shaft 31 (FIG. 4), which drives the vertical conveyors 30. Each magazine 12 also has a first set of three horizontal magazine pipe conveyors 34 (FIG. 4). As best shown in FIG. 4, the first set of magazine horizontal pipe conveyors 34 begins at the vertical conveyors 30 and extends to a second set of three magazine horizontal pipe conveyors 36. The second set of magazine horizontal pipe conveyors 36 begins at the end of the first set of magazine horizontal pipe conveyors 34 and extends out of the side of the magazine 12 to the pipe conveyor 14. A motor 37 drives a shaft 35, which drives the first set of magazine horizontal pipe conveyors 34 (FIG. 4). The first and second set of magazine horizontal pipe conveyors 34, 36 have a shovel arm 39 on each conveyor for moving the pipe 18 along the conveyors 34, 36.